Albany Beach

TRAILHEAD INFORMATION

Highlights

Albany Beach is a wide sandy beach backed by low dunes, that provides scenic access to the East Bay shoreline and beyond. The site is most utilized by kayakers under calm conditions and kiteboarders when the winds are up.

East Bay Regional Park District is planning the Albany Beach Habitat Restoration and Public Access Project, which will construct substantial site improvements in 2018. Additional information is available on their website.

Boat Facilities

Albany Beach is a wide sandy beach, providing a scenic launch for kayaks and SUP under calm conditions and kiteboarders when the winds are up. Boaters may want to bring “boat wheels” (small boat dolly) to help get their boats and boards from the parking lot to the beach, because some of the parking is quite a distance from the beach.

Kiteboarding is concentrated in the southern portion of the beach and kiteboarders will often use the existing Golden Gate Fields dirt parking area for equipment rigging. This site is for advanced kiteboarders only.

Directions

From I-80 / I-580 take the Buchanan Street exit. Head west on Buchanan Street and the parking area and beach are located at the end of the road.

Parking

The primary parking area is located on Buchanan Street, which provides 40 spaces, including two van accessible ADA spaces. Parking along Buchanan Street is free and 2-hour limited. Park hours are from 5 am – 10 pm.

Additional parking is typically allowed in the Golden Gate Fields parking lot adjacent to the east of the Beach, which is accessed from Gilman Street to the south.

Restrooms

An ADA portable restroom is located at the west end of the Buchanan Street parking lot.

Amenities

The East Bay Regional Parks District and City of Albany provide a variety of shoreside facilities, including an ADA portable restroom, trails, bike racks, and parking. A recently completed segment of Bay Trail along the Albany Bulb provides a scenic walk with exceptional views.

Accessibility

There is a paved path of travel from the two ADA spaces along Buchanan Street to the top of the dunes at the northern entrance to the beach. There is also an ADA portable restroom and trails to the Albany Bulb are accessible.

The EBRPD Albany Beach Habitat Restoration and Public Access Project will provide accessibility mats in two locations to provide firm surface beach crossings. Construction is scheduled for 2018.

Safety Tips

Albany Beach provides direct access to a small basin that is somewhat sheltered by the Albany Bulb and Cesar Chavez Park. This area can provide a more protected area for paddling on calm days. Outside of the basin, the Bay is popular for recreational and commercial boating so boaters need to be cautious and aware of their surroundings.

Due to the popularity of Albany Beach with dog walkers and beach-goers, extreme caution needs to be utilized when kiteboarding from this site. This site is for advanced kiteboarders only.

Wildlife Tips

The Albany Mudflats Ecological Reserve / State Marine Park, an important feeding ground for a variety of shorebirds and waterfowl, is located north of the Albany Bulb, an approximately 1.2 mile paddle from the Beach. Paddling in the Albany Mudflats Ecological Reserve / State Marine Park is prohibited. The Albany Mudflats are extremely shallow and large mudflats are exposed at low tides.

In addition, Brooks Island is approximately two miles of the site. Brooks Island contains 18 species of nesting birds, including herons, gulls, and terns, and is a secondary harbor seal haulout site.